ATLANTA UNITED SUFFER HEAVY DEFEAT IN MEXICO

Atlanta United endured their second defeat in a week in the CONCACAF Champions League as they fell to a 3-0 defeat to Mexico outfit CF Monterrey on Wednesday. The defending MLS Cup champions had gone to the game on the back of an opening day MLS defeat at DC United and never looked like winning.

The match played inside a fiery atmosphere at the Estadio BBVA Bancomer in Guadalupe saw the Mexicans on the front foot early on. Monterrey sprung up the traps early and put Atlanta’s defence under heavy pressure in the first 10 minutes of the game.

The pressure eventually led to a goal as Dorlan Pabon was fouled in the box by Leandro Gonzalez Pirez leading to a penalty. Nicolas Sanchez took the ball and slotted home from 12 yards to put the home side 1-0 ahead.

Atalanta eventually got a grip on the game as they became more organized restricting the home team to a couple of speculative effort going into halftime. At the resumption of the second half, the game continued in the same wave as Atlanta sought to keep their opponents out while looking for an away goal.

However, with 10 minutes left to play Monterrey doubled their lead when man of the match Pabon scored a spectacular drive from just outside the box. This seemed to rattle Atalanta as the Monterrey sensed that another goal would kill off the clash.

The third goal would eventually come four minutes later as Jesus Gallardo netted from close range making condemning Atalanta to a damaging first leg defeat.  New manager Frank de Boer has his work cut-out as he would need to inspire a return leg comeback in Atalanta.

However, with quality players like Pity Martinez, Josef Martinez and Ezequiel Barco, Atlanta United would fancy an unlikely comeback in the return leg.


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